Very Sad News Concerning Mary Sample

September 8th, 2010 by Education Alliance

I am sorry to tell you the very sad news that Mary Sample, a leader in the Arkansas home schooling movement, passed away suddenly at about 6:30 p.m. on Sunday. Mary and her husband Steve have led Central Arkansas’ Home Ed organization for a number of years. In addition, they have served as members of the Education Alliance Steering Committee.

In an e-mail sent on Sunday night, her husband Steve said, “About 6:30 tonight…Mary Sample (my wife) passed away suddenly. She was painting a room at the church. She was atop a ladder. With her was our daughter (Emily), a friend (Lisa), and Lisa’s 2 year old granddaughter. They had finished painting the room and Mary was touching up the top of the wall near the ceiling. They heard a gurgling noise from Mary and she collapsed off the ladder to the floor. CPR was not successful at any stage.”

I spoke with Steve today. Initial medical reports indicated that what occurred was something like a switch in her heart that turned off suddenly. Apparently, this is why CPR efforts were unsuccessful.

Those of us who knew Mary admired her and wished we were more like her. We knew that if Mary Sample was doing something that it would be done very well. We will miss her and we pray for God’s grace on Steve and their children Carter, Sydney, and Emily.